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No. 6|8,778. Patented 1an. 3|, |399. L. C. BURGESS.

BRAKE BEAM.

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNIT-nn STA-TES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER C. BURGESS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,778, dated January 31, 1899.

Application led September 30, 1897. Serial No. 653,640. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER C. BURcEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beams; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan View of a trussed brakebeam, parts broken away to show the features of construction which embody my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the beam, showing the features which embody my invention. Fig. 3 is a detached View Vin elevation of an end cap, portion of a brake-head, and an end or socket sleeve, the parts arranged in the order in which they are assembled in setting up the beam. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the brake-head end or socket sleeve compression member and tension member of the beam, taken on the line no 0s, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detached plan View of one end of the compression member of the beam. Fig. 6 is an end view of the compression member of the beam. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of one end of a brakebeam embodying my invention, wherein a tubular compression member of rectangular cross-section is employed. Fig. S is a transverse section of the modification shown in Fig. 7, taken on the line y @j of said'Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of one end of a brake-beam embodying my invention,wherein a channeliron compression member is utilized. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the modification shown in Fig. 9, taken on the line ,z z' of said Fig. 9.

Like symbols refer to like parts Wherever they occur.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of trussed metallic brake-beams, and has for its several objects to eliminate any lost motion between the compression member and the brake-head, to obviate torsional movement of the compression member of the beam upon and with relation to the tension member, thus preventing the channeling or wear of the tension member, and to transfer the torsional strains of the beam to the tension member, thereby relieving the compression member thereof,and thus enhancing the strength, stiffness, and durability of the beam.

In all trussed brake-beams which are composed of a compression member, a strut, a tension member, and a brake-head or an equivalent combination of parts the end bearings of the compression member have heretofore, so far as I am aware, been in a plane coincident with or parallel to the plane of the brake-head, which plane intersected the plane of the tension member of the beam at other than a right angle. As a consequence of such an arrangement and combination of the coacting parts every deflection of thecompression member incident to the p application and release of the brakes caused Athe rocking of the compression member on its end bearings and permitted a rotary or torsional movement of the compression member, which resulted in a tendency to displace the nuts which coniined the parts, induced a sawing movement of the compression member on Vthe tension member, which in course of time wore a channel in and reduced the cross-section and strength of the tension member, and subjected the compression member to torsional strain at the point of intersection of the tension member therewith.

To overcome the rocking and rotary motion of the compression member of the beam on its end bearings, I cut back, incline, or so shape the ends of the compression member that when combined with the tension member said ends and the end bearings provided therefor shall lie or be in a plane at right angles to the axis ofthe tension member, whereby any rotary motion of the compression member is resisted by reason of the inclination of the bearings. The bearings will move or rock with the compression member and all strains will be transferred from the bearings to the tension member, and such a construction or its equivalent embodies the main feature of my invention.

There are other minor features of invention, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

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In the drawings, A indicates the compression member, B the strut or post, C the tension member, and D D the brake-heads, of a trussed metallic brake-beam.

In the present instance what is known as a cambered trussed brake-beam, or one whose compression member is slightly bowed backward, has been chosen for purposes of illustration, not for limitation, but sim ply because the invention is especially adapted to this class of beam, and for like reasons the brake-heads have been combined with the compression and tension members by means of end caps or end disks E E and interposed end orsocket sleeves F F, though, if preferred, the end caps or end disks E and end sleeves or socket-sleeves F F may be merged into or formed as an integral part of the brake-head D.

Having the above modifications in mind, I will for the sake of clearness and brevity hereinafter confine the description of the construction to the preferred form, as illustrated in the drawings.

The compression member A, which maybe of any desired cross-section and either hol low-channeled or solid, provided the same is so shaped at its ends as to accommodate the tension member C, is cut back at the ends, as indicated at l, on a line which intersects its axis at an oblique angle, and which line will when the parts are in position intersect the tension member C at substantially a right angle.

In case the usual socket or cup brake-head is employed the bottom of the socket will be correspondingly inclined; but by preference lan independent detachable end or socket sleeve F is provided, said socket-sleeve having on its interior the inclined seat 2, formed at an oblique angle to the axis of the sleeve and at a right angle to the axis of the tension member, and said socket-sleeve F is perforated at right angles to the plane of seat 2, as at 3, for the passage of the tension member.

Upon the exterior of socket-sleeve F is a fiange or collar 4, which serves as an inner bearing for the brake-head D, and said collar 4 may be notched at any desired point, (see Figs. 8 and 10,) as at 5, for the reception of a tongue or lug 6 on the inner side of head D. The position of said notch 5 will determine the throw of brake-head D, and its position will therefore be regulated by the throw desired.

E indicates the end cap or end disk for confining the brake-head D and combining the compression-member socket-sleeve, tension member,.and brake-head, and said end disk or cap is perforated for the passage of the tension member C, and surrounding said perfoi-ation is an inclined nut-seat 7, whose plane is at a right angle to the plane of the tensionrod C.

c c indicate the nuts, which are applied to the threaded ends of the tension-rod C for confining and combining the several parts comprisingthetrussedbrake-beam. Between the caps E and the nuts c nut-locks d may be inserted, if desired.

The several elements composing the beam may be set up or combined in the usual manner by first applying the strut B, socketsleeves F, and brake-heads D to the compression member, then inserting the tension-rod C, and iinally applying the end caps E, the nut locks d, if employed, and the nuts c, screwing the nuts c home until the desired camberhas been given to compression member A.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a trussed brake-beam, the combination with the tension member, and brakehead, of a compression member having its end inclined or cut back to form an end bearing within the brake-head which bearing is in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the tension member, and a similarlyinclined bearing or seat within the brakehead with which the compression member engages, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a trussed brake-beam, the combination of a tension member, a compression member cut back at its ends to form end bearings in planes at substantially right angles to the plane of the tension member, and a socketsleeve having an inclined seat for the end of the com pression member the plane of said seat being at substantially a right angle to the plane of the tension member, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a trussed brake-beam, the combination with a tension member of a compression member having an end bearing at substantially a right angle to the plane of the tension member, a socket-sleeve having an inclined seat for the end bearing of the compression member and provided with a notched collar or flange bearing for the brake-head, and a brake-head having a lug or projection which engages the notch in the flange or collar of the socket-sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony wheleof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of September, 1897.

LUTHER C. BURGESS.

Witnesses:

E. T. WALKER, C. FRANK I-IUNTooN.

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